Melvin H. Chalfen, commissioner of health and hospitals for Cambridge,
has asked the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court to overturn the Court of
Appeals' ruling.

The court will also be asked to decide the legality of the city's
regulation prohibiting Little from testing, transporting and stocking five
chemical warfare agents at its Acorn Park facility.

State Supreme Court Judge Paul Liacos is expected to announce by Friday
whether or not the full Massachusetts Supreme Court will review the case
during its April session.

Cambridge's ban on testing has been both blocked and upheld by several
Massachusetts courts over the past year.

Scott Lewis, Chalfen's lawyer, told the court that testing and storing
chemicals at Levins Laboratory could pose a serious threat to the health of
Cambridge residents.

Richard T. Murphy, Jr., Little's vice president and general counsel, said
in an interview with The Boston Globe that the company stores less
than 10 milliliters of the substances. The company is testing the agents
under a US Department of Defense contract.